Syringe safety device

Abstract

A syringe safety device coupling between a vial and a syringe, including a tubular connector having a first axial end receiving the vial and a second, opposing axial end releasably receiving a syringe. The tubular connector encloses a sliding joint having opposing open axial ends and a passageway between the ends. A first sliding joint end is adapted to engage a syringe needle. A second sliding joint end is configured to releasably engage a needle receiver. The syringe is releasably removable from the sliding joint after fluid coupling with the vial through the sliding joint, without removal of the needle or the sliding joint from the connector, which captures the needle with the sliding joint in the connector. The first end of a joint includes a receiver, adapted to releasably receive a removable syringe needle, and a mount, adapted to releasably receive a releasable needle receiver of a syringe.

1. A syringe safety device configured to form a fluid coupling between a sealed vial and a syringe, the syringe safety device comprising:
 a tubular connector having opposing first and second open axial ends, the first open axial end engaging an end of the sealed vial; and 
 a sliding joint received in the second open axial end of the tubular connector, the sliding joint having opposing first and second open axial ends and a passageway between the first and second open axial ends, the first open axial end releasably mating with an enlarged, blunt mounting end of a syringe needle, the second axial end of the sliding joint further releasably engaging at least a releasable needle receiver on a distal end of the syringe without a needle, at least part of the passageway extending between the needle receiver and the mounting end of the syringe needle when the syringe, syringe needle and sliding joint are assembled, the syringe being releasably removable from the sliding joint after fluid coupling with the vial through the passageway of the sliding joint without removal of the sliding joint from the tubular connector and without removal of the syringe needle. 
 
   
   
     2. The syringe safety device according to  claim 1  further comprising a syringe needle with one pointed end and one enlarged, blunt removable mounting end, the needle being non-releasably captured in the tubular connector with the sliding joint. 
   
   
     3. The syringe safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the first axial end of the sliding joint includes a needle receiver that releasably engages the blunt mounting end of the enclosed needle. 
   
   
     4. The syringe safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the second axial end of the sliding joint is open and has an inner chamber exposed at the second end of the tubular connector, the inner chamber releasably receiving at least a needle mount provided on the distal end of the syringe to removably mount a needle to the distal end of the syringe. 
   
   
     5. The syringe safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the sliding joint has a needle receiver at the first axial end that engages with the enlarged blunt end of the needle and a needle receiver engaging structure at the second axial end that releasably receives the needle receiver of the syringe. 
   
   
     6. A syringe safety device configured to form a fluid coupling between a sealed vial and a syringe, the syringe safety device comprising:
 a tubular connector having opposing first and second open axial ends, the first open axial end engaging an end of the sealed vial; 
 a needle having a mating member, the mating member having at least one radially outwardly extending proximal flange; and 
 a sliding joint received in the second open axial end of the tubular connector, the sliding joint having opposing first and second open axial ends and a passageway between the first and second open axial ends, the first open axial end having a needle receiver releasably engaging with the mating member of the needle, the second axial end of the sliding joint having a needle receiver engaging structure releasably receiving a Luer type needle receiver on a distal end of a barrel of the syringe, whereby the sliding joint can be releasably engaged between the needle and a syringe within the tubular connector and the syringe can be directly releasably engageable with the mating member of the needle outside of the tubular connector, the syringe being releasably removable from the sliding joint after fluid coupling with the vial through the passageway of the sliding joint without removal of the sliding joint from the tubular connector and without removal of the needle. 
 
   
   
     7. The syringe safety device according to  claim 1  in combination with the sealed vial. 
   
   
     8. The combination in accordance with  claim 7  wherein the syringe safety device and the vial are packaged together in sealed, sterile packaging. 
   
   
     9. The syringe safety device according to  claim 1  in combination with the syringe without needle. 
   
   
     10. The combination according to  claim 9  wherein the syringe safety device and the syringe are packaged together in sealed, sterile packaging. 
   
   
     11. The combination according to  claim 10  further comprising the sealed vial packaged together with the syringe safety device and the syringe in the sealed, sterile packaging. 
   
   
     12. The syringe safety device according to  claim 1  wherein the tubular connector has an open ended cavity at the first open axial end receives a flange end of a vial with stopper and wherein the tubular connector has at least one spring clip member extending into the cavity and snaps against a vial inserted into the first cavity after the flange end of the inserted vial has cammed under and past the at least one spring clip member. 
   
   
     13. The syringe safety device according to  claim 11  wherein the at least one spring clip member non-releasably engages the flange of a vial cammed under and past the at least one spring clip member. 
   
   
     14. A syringe safety device configured to form a fluid coupling between a sealed vial and a syringe, the syringe safety device comprising:
 a tubular connector having opposing first and second open axial ends, the first open axial end engaging an end of the sealed vial; 
 a needle having a mating member releasably mountable to a distal end of the syringe outside of the tubular connector; and 
 a sliding joint received in the second open axial end of the tubular connector, the sliding joint having opposing first and second open axial ends and a fluid passageway between the first and second open axial ends, the first open axial end having a needle receiver releasably and selectably engaging with the mating member of the needle, the second axial end of the sliding joint having an engaging structure releasably receiving the distal end the syringe, whereby the sliding joint can be releasably engaged between the mating member of the needle and the distal end of the syringe within the tubular connector to form a fluid connection between the sealed vial and the syringe, the syringe being releasably removable from the sliding joint after fluid coupling with the vial through the fluid passageway of the sliding joint without removal of the sliding joint from the tubular connector and without removing the needle from the tubular connector and sliding joint.